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Regular Session, 2010
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 39
BY SENATOR MARIONNEAUX
CONDOLENCES. Expresses condolences upon the death of United States Army Private
First Class Brian Bates.
A RESOLUTION1
To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana to the2
family of United States Army Private First Class Brian Bates.3
WHEREAS, Brian Bates was a native son of Gretna, Louisiana, where he attended4
the schools of George Cox Elementary and Livaudais Middle in Terrytown, and developed5
his athletic skills with his participation in basketball, baseball and soccer on the fields of6
Oakdale Park; and7
WHEREAS, he was raised primarily by his grandmother, Marline O'Briant Tully,8
and later, as a young man, he found work in the offshore oil world, holding various jobs and9
working hard to support his family; and10
WHEREAS, Brian now had a growing family of his own and in order to better11
support his wife, Enjolie and his baby daughter and infant son, he enlisted in the United12
States Army in November 2008; and13
WHEREAS, Brian immersed himself in the rigors of basic combat training and found14
great satisfaction in the Spartan lifestyle of the military as he successfully completed his15
advanced individual training; and16
WHEREAS, Brian, now a Private First Class, had toughened and hardened into an17
excellent soldier during his duty at Ft. Lewis, Washington, learning the finer points of being18 SR NO. 39
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an infantryman; and1
WHEREAS, PFC Bates knew he would be heading for the war in Afghanistan2
sooner, or later, because of his job as a ground, combat trooper and his assignment to the 2
nd
3
Infantry Division; and4
WHEREAS, PFC Bates received his orders for Operation Enduring Freedom much5
sooner than expected, causing wife Enjolie to leave college early to join him for the last6
several months before his deployment; and7
WHEREAS, after a whirlwind visit home and a family trip to Disney World, in July8
2009, PFC Bates landed at his new duty station at Forward Operating Base Ramrod in9
southern Afghanistan; and10
WHEREAS, PFC Bates was soon serving as a member of Alpha Company, 1
st
11
Battalion, 17
th
Infantry Regiment, 5
th
Stryker Brigade Combat Team, and driving his fellow12
soldiers into combat in a Stryker armored vehicle; and13
WHEREAS, PFC Bates was twenty years old as he worked the controls of his14
massive personnel carrier on October 27, 2009, through the uncharted, enemy-infested15
territory of Kandahar, investigating reports of terrorist forces operating in his unit's tactical16
area of operations; and17
WHEREAS, PFC Bates and his men were soon engaged by enemy troops who18
employed roadside, improvised explosive devices to mortally wound him and seven other19
American soldiers in two separate bombings in the highly unstable province known for its20
many Taliban fighters; and21
WHEREAS, PFC Bates was highly decorated for his brave combat service, receiving22
the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, the Afghanistan23
Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the NATO Service Medal, the24
National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, and the prestigious Combat25
Infantryman Badge.26
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana27
does hereby extend its deepest and most profound condolences to the family of PFC Brian28
Bates for their tremendous sacrifice and his courageous service to his country.29
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the30 SR NO. 39
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family of PFC Bates.1
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Heyward Jeffers.
DIGEST
Marionneaux SR No.
Expresses condolences upon the death of U.S. Army PFC Brian Bates in Afghanistan.